- adult
means a person aged 18 or over;
- adult without capacity
means an adult who, within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, lacks capacity in relation to a notice under this section;
- advocate
means—
- appropriate person
means—
- child
means a person aged under 18;
- childcare provider
means— (a) in relation to England, a person who provides childcare— (a) in respect of which the person is registered under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006, (b) in respect of which the person would, but for section 34(2) or 53(2) of that Act, be required to be registered under Chapter 2 or 3 of Part 3 of that Act, or (c) in respect of which the person would, but for section 63(3) of that Act, be able to be registered under Chapter 4 of Part 3 of that Act;
- corresponding offence
means— i in relation to an offence under section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, the corresponding offence under the law of England and Wales within the meaning of that section;
- counselling information request
means a victim information request to a person who provides counselling services of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument. 6 The reference in subsection (3)(c) to crime is a reference to― a conduct which constitutes one or more criminal offences in England and Wales, or b conduct which, if it took place in England and Wales, would constitute one or more criminal offences. 7 Subsection (8) applies if the authorised person thinks that, in making the request, there is a risk of obtaining information other than information necessary to achieve a purpose within subsection (3)(c). 8 The authorised person must, to be satisfied that the request is proportionate, be satisfied that— a there are no other means of obtaining the information sought, or b there are such other means, but it is not reasonably practicable to use them. 9 In making a victim information request or deciding whether to make such a request (including giving notice under section 44B or deciding whether to give such notice) an authorised person must have regard to the code of practice for the time being in force under section 44D. 10 I
- criminal conduct
means conduct which constitutes an offence.
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
means— (a) the schemes established by arrangements made under section 1 of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995, or (b) arrangements made by the Secretary of State for compensation for criminal injuries in operation before the commencement of those schemes;
- domestic abuse related death review
means a review of the circumstances of the death of a person which is held— a where the death has, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse towards the person within the meaning of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and b with a view to identifying the lessons to be learned from the death. 2 The Secretary of State may in a particular case direct a specified person or body within subsection (6) to establish, or to participate in, a domestic abuse related death review. 3 It is the duty of any person or body within subsection (6) establishing or participating in a domestic abuse related death review (whether or not held pursuant to a direction under subsection (2)) to have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State as to the establishment and conduct of such reviews. 4 A person or body within subsection (6) that establishes a domestic abuse related death review (whether or not held pursuant to a direction under subsection (2)) must send a copy of any report setting out the conclusions of the review to the Secretary of State and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. 5 The copy must be sent as soon as reasonably practicable after the repor
- educational establishment
means— (a) a school in England or Wales;
- Eligible persons
means such persons within subsection (3) as the regulations provide are to be eligible persons.
- financial year
means—
- harm
includes physical, mental or emotional harm and economic loss;
- health care
includes all forms of health care, whether relating to physical or mental health;
- infected blood support scheme
means—
- Law enforcement
means the prevention, detection or investigation of offences.”
- law enforcement functions
means functions for the purposes of the investigation or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties;
- legal activity
has the meaning given by section 12(3) of the Legal Services Act 2007;
- licence termination
means an order, under section 31A(2) or (4H) of the 1997 Act, that the licence on which the prisoner was released from prison is to cease to have effect.
- life sentence
has the meaning given by section 34(2) of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997;
- local authority
means— a in relation to England, the council of a district, county or London borough, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
- major incident
means an incident that—
- Northern Ireland body
means— (a) a Northern Ireland department;
- preventive sentence
means— a a sentence of imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution for public protection under section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (including one passed as a result of section 219 of the Armed Forces Act 2006), or b a sentence of detention for public protection under section 226 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (including one passed as a result of section 221 of the Armed Forces Act 2006).”
- primary legislation
means—
- public authority
includes— but does not include the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service or the Government Communications Headquarters.
- public protection decision
has the meaning given by section 237A(2);
- qualified lawyer
means a person who is an authorised person in relation to a reserved legal activity for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007 or a person who is a registered foreign lawyer;
- registered foreign lawyer
means a person who is registered with the Law Society under section 89 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;
- release from prison
means the prisoner’s release on licence under section 28(5) or 32(5) of the 1997 Act or unconditional release under either of those sections as modified by section 31A(4G) of that Act;
- relevant conduct
means conduct by virtue of which the person making the disclosure is or reasonably believes they are a victim (see section 1(1) and (2) of this Act);
- relevant hearing
means any hearing held by the tribunal before making a decision which disposes of proceedings on the application or reference mentioned in subsection (1);
- relevant organisation
means—
- relevant person
means a person who is not an individual and is subject to the duty in section 5(1) of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (duty to provide services in accordance with the code issued under section 2 of that Act).”
- relevant public protection decision
means the public protection decision made— (a) under paragraph 6(2) for the purposes of paragraph 6(1), (b) under paragraph 15(4) for the purposes of paragraph 15(3), (c) under paragraph 25(3) for the purposes of paragraph 25(2), or (d) under paragraph 28(3) for the purposes of paragraph 28(2);”
- relevant sentence
means the sentence in respect of which the public protection decision is made. 9 This section does not limit the matters which the decision-maker must or may take into account when making a public protection decision. 10 The “relevant provisions” of this Chapter under which a public protection decision may be made, and the purposes for which the decision is made, are— a section 28(6)(b), for the purposes of section 28(5);
- relevant tax
means income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, value added tax, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax;
- reporting period
means— (a) the period beginning with the day on which this section comes into force and ending with 31 March following that day, and (b) each successive period of 12 months.
- review period
means the period of three years beginning with the day on which section 28 of this Act comes into force.
- school
has the meaning given by section 4 of the Education Act 1996. 49B 1 The Secretary of State may by regulations amend section 49A so that the objective in subsection (2) of that section applies in relation to childcare providers, or childcare providers of particular descriptions, as it applies in relation to relevant educational establishments. 2 In this section— • “childcare”— (a) in relation to England, has the meaning given by section 18 of the Childcare Act 2006;
- Scottish body
means— (a) a person who is a part of the Scottish Administration;
- service offence
means an offence under— i section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, ii section 70 of the Army Act 1955 or the Air Force Act 1955, or iii section 42 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957;
- specified
means specified in the victims’ code.
- tax provision
means any legislation about a relevant tax.
- the 1997 Act
means the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997;
- the appropriate court
means— (a) in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the High Court;
- the relevant probation body
has the meaning given in section 37(8);
- victim
has the meaning given by section 1 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. 11 This section is subject to sections 44B (notice requirements for victim information requests) and 44C (content of victim information requests). 12 A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (5) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. 44B 1 The authorised person must (subject to subsection (5)) give notice of a victim information request to the person to whom the information sought relates (“V”). 2 Notice under this section must be in writing— a specifying or describing the information sought by the victim information request, b specifying the reason why the information is sought, and c specifying how the information will be dealt with once it has been obtained. 3 Notice under this section must be given— a on or before the date on which the victim information request is made, or b if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as is reasonably practicable after that date. 4 If V is a child or an adult without capacity, notice under this section is given to V by giving it to— a a parent or guardian of V or, if V is in the care of a rele
- victim impact statement
means a statement about the way in which, and degree to which, the offence has affected and (as the case may be) continues to affect the victim or any other person.”
- victim information request
means a request by an authorised person to another person to provide information which relates to a third person who the authorised person has reason to believe is or may be— a a victim, or b at risk of being a victim. 3 A victim information request may be made only if the authorised person— a has reason to believe that the person to whom the request is made holds the information sought, b has reason to believe that the information sought is relevant to a reasonable line of enquiry which is being pursued, or is to be pursued, by the authorised person or another authorised person, and c is satisfied that the request is necessary and proportionate to achieve the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting crime. 4 A counselling information request may be made only if the authorised person has reason to believe that the information sought is likely to have substantial probative value to a reasonable line of enquiry which is being pursued, or is to be pursued, by the authorised person or another authorised person. 5 For the purposes of subsection (4), a “counselling information request” means a victim information request to a person who p
- victim support role
means a role performed by individuals which involves the provision of support to victims of criminal conduct (where the support relates to that conduct).
- Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme
means the scheme established by arrangements made under section 47 of the Crime and Security Act 2010.
- voluntary organisation
means a body (other than a public authority) whose activities are not carried on for profit. 44C 1 A victim information request must be in writing― a specifying or describing the information sought, b specifying the reason why the information is sought, and c specifying how the information will be dealt with once it has been obtained. 2 The authorised person need not specify the matters mentioned in subsection (1)(b) or (c) if the authorised person considers that doing so― a is not reasonably practicable in the circumstances, b might interfere with the investigation or enquiry for which the information is sought or any other investigation or enquiry which is being pursued, or is to be pursued, by the authorised person or another authorised person, or c might risk causing serious harm to the person to whom the information sought relates or another person. 44D 1 The Secretary of State must prepare a code of practice for authorised persons about victim information requests and compliance with this Chapter. 2 The code must in particular— a provide that an authorised person must, when considering whether they are satisfied as required by paragraph (c) of section
- Welsh body
means— (a) a devolved Welsh authority as defined in section 157A of the Government of Wales Act 2006;
- whole life order
means an order that section 28(5) to (8) of that Act (early release of person serving life sentence) is not to apply to a person. 4 A person is to be treated for the purposes of this section as being subject to a whole life order if— a the person is serving a life sentence passed before 18 December 2003, b the sentence was passed in circumstances where the sentence was fixed by law, c before 18 December 2003 the person was notified in writing by the Secretary of State (otherwise than in a notice expressed to be provisional) that the Secretary of State does not intend that the person should ever be released on licence, and d an order has not been made in relation to the sen